Sendong Dumaguete Tropical Storm Washi

Tropical storm Sendong in Dumaguete Negros – also named Washi

Negros was spared the extensive devastation that Mindanao experienced when the Tropical Storm Sendong passed through the Philippines Dec 16-17 2011. There was huge loss of life in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan in northern Mindanao with the loss of nearly 1000 people so far. Likely many more victims are still buried in the mud.

I was in Dumaguete and took a few pictures. While the damage here was not on the same scale as in Mindanao , the people in affected areas still felt enormous pain when their homes were destroyed and swept out to sea. One woman walking through the rubble told me that one child from her neighborhood was taken by the storm – very sad.

This is the morning after the heavy rains in Dumaguete. I had waded from my Coastal Inn hotel room planning on getting a cup of coffee at Mc Donalds and was a bit surprised at the damage in town. I heard heavy rain through out the night but stayed put until the rain stopped.

This area was not affected very much but the streets were filling with runoff from the rain. I did not have a tv that worked and the electricity was not on anyway so I was completely unaware of the huge damage in some other parts of the Philippines – especially Iligan and Cagayan de Oro. The devastation in those areas in Mindanao was enormous and there was a shortage of drinking water almost immediately. In Negros things were cleaned up rather quickly but still many people , (especially those that had been living in low lying areas and along the rivers) felt some real pain.

Sendong Debris on the waterfront in Dumaguete

Debris from Washi / Sendong with shipwreck in the background. I am not trying to be any authority on this Sendong or Washi tropical storm because I was just resting in my dry hotel room listening to the rain but after watching reports later of the really hard hit areas of Mindanao I can not help but to feel sadness in my heart for those that lost everything!

Everyone pitched in trying to salvage as much reusable materials as possible. By late afternoon most of the salvageable bits had been carted away and the tide was sweeping the rest out to sea. These Filipinos did a remarkable job of getting things sorted out in a short amount of time. Most of the debris had been cleared away by the time I left for Cebu the next day.

Piles of wood and other stuff were placed in piles along the waterfront.

Some of the kids concentrated on catching snakes in the debris and putting them in plastic bottles. I estimate I saw about two dozen snakes including one quite large and free ranging one. Someone beat it to death with a long stick. I know nothing about snakes but i suppose that it would not be good to be bitten by one.

Catching snakes in the debris from Sendong.

Dumaguete waterfront – catching snakes on the beach.

It was simply amazing to watch how everyone seemed to find their niche

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One of the salvers specialized in collecting coconuts.

Most of the salvageable building material was cleaned up by the afternoon of the first day.

Sendong tropical storm clean up.

I think the city of Dumaguete has recovered as much as can be expected but the work in Cagayan and Iligan is still in progress. There is extreme hardship in these areas and the authorities can not  even bury all the dead.

The Philippine National Red Cross chief Gwendolyn Pang said (quote from Philippine Daily Inquirer Dec 23 2011)

“Many will never be found and we don’t know how many are really missing. No one will report them because entire families were swept away”, Pang said.

note – If you are able to help or donate to any organizations involved in providing relief to these areas it would be most appreciated by the people. Thank you- dp

Dumaguete waterfront after Sendong clean up

Most of the debris got washed away by the tide after the first day in Dumaguete.

In Mindanao many bodies were found 100 kilometers off the coast where the flooding was more severe and whole neighborhoods were washed out to sea.

Sendong Tropical storm – Dumaguete

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Other pictures – many fuzzy because my camera was wet.

This man was opening coconuts and handing out buko juice for those around him. If you are skilled with a bolo ( machete ) you can trim off the coconut tops and then drink the refreshing juice inside.

Walking through the debris.

The Filipino seem to have a talent to find humor in almost any situation! I even saw one of the salvers standing in the debris plucking a chicken that he had just scored floating by. People are survivors and do what must be done!

Keep in mind that these pictures were taken in Dumaguete Negros where the damage was not as sudden or extensive as in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan. I just happened to be in Dumaguete – dp.

Sendong debris and shipwreck.

Sendong